Enhanced vehicle key fob

Abstract

An enhanced vehicle key fob includes a controller that is coupled to a power source, an antenna, and an accelerometer that measures the acceleration of the enhanced vehicle key fob and outputs the measurement to the controller, wherein the enhanced vehicle key fob controls a vehicle function of a vehicle using the output of the accelerometer.

1 . An enhanced vehicle key fob, comprising:
 a processor that is coupled to a power source and an accelerometer that measures the acceleration of the enhanced vehicle key fob and outputs the measurement to the processor, wherein the enhanced vehicle key fob controls a vehicle function of a vehicle using the output of the accelerometer.   
     
     
         2 . The enhanced vehicle key fob of  claim 1 , further comprising a vibrating electric motor providing haptic feedback that confirms a vehicle function has been controlled. 
     
     
         3 . The enhanced vehicle key fob of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors for measuring human vital signs. 
     
     
         4 . The enhanced vehicle key fob of  claim 1 , including one or more straps that secure the enhanced vehicle key fob to a user. 
     
     
         5 . The enhanced vehicle key fob of  claim 1 , wherein the processor communicates using Bluetooth low energy (LE) wireless communication protocols. 
     
     
         6 . The enhanced vehicle key fob of  claim 1 , wherein the enhanced vehicle key fob sends data to a smartphone via a short-range wireless link. 
     
     
         7 . The enhanced vehicle key fob of  claim 6 , wherein the smartphone determines a range to the enhanced vehicle key fob based on the strength of a signal broadcast by the enhanced vehicle key fob. 
     
     
         8 . The enhanced vehicle key fob of  claim 1 , further comprising an enclosure no more than 40 millimeters long and no more than 40 millimeters wide. 
     
     
         9 . The enhanced vehicle key fob of  claim 1 , further comprising a gyroscope providing angular movement measurements to the processor. 
     
     
         10 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of using an enhanced vehicle key fob having an accelerometer to detect enhanced vehicle key fob loss, comprising the steps of:
 (a) detecting that an increase in acceleration at the enhanced vehicle key fob using the accelerometer is above a first threshold;   (b) detecting that a decrease in acceleration at the enhanced vehicle key fob using the accelerometer is above a second threshold;   (c) determining that both the increase and decrease in acceleration occurred within a predefined amount of time; and   (d) activating an alert at the enhanced vehicle key fob in response to steps (a)-(c) that informs a user that the vehicle key fob has been lost.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the acceleration is detected using an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or both included with the enhanced vehicle key fob. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the predefined amount of time is less than one second. 
     
     
         24 . A method of locally monitoring human vital signs of a vehicle occupant using a enhanced vehicle key fob, comprising the steps of:
 (a) establishing a human vital sign threshold;   (b) associating the human vital sign threshold with a vehicle function;   (c) measuring one or more human vital signs using the enhanced vehicle key fob;   (d) comparing the measured human vital sign with the established human vital sign threshold; and   (e) controlling the vehicle function associated with the human vital sign threshold when the measured human vital sign exceeds the established human vital sign threshold.   
     
     
         25 . A method of converting audio generated at a vehicle into haptic information using an enhanced vehicle key fob, comprising the steps of:
 (a) associating information played audibly at the vehicle with a haptic output that represents the information;   (b) receiving at the enhanced vehicle key fob a signal indicating audible information is played at the vehicle; and   (c) generating the haptic output representing the audible information at the enhanced vehicle key fob in response to step (b).